Box.



PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

J. P. BAIRD BOX.

I APPLICATION TILED NOV. 5, 1903.

NO MODEL.

' gles, as indicated at 12.

'tion of a simple and inexpensive box of this UNiTEn STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

JAMES PERY BAIRD,

OF DEWITT, IOlVA.

BOX.

SPECIFICATTON forming part of Letters Patent No. 758,887, dated ay 3, 1904.

Application filed Novembe 5, 1903.

To rtZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JAMES PERT BAKED, ot' Dewitt, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be ai'ull, clear, and ex" act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in boxes, and relates particularly to that class of boxes of the folding type employed for storing berries, small fruits, and the like. it

The invention has for its object the prod uccharacter the sides of which are formed of one integral piece of material.

A further object is to provide 'simple and efiicient means for uniting the ends of the side piece, whereby they are capable of ready disengagement, and yet held against accidental disengagement. V

A further object is to provide means for securing the bottom in position, so that it will rigidly support the sides without the use of nails or other similar devices.

A further object is to provide a folding box which can be easily and quickly collapsed or set up at will and which when so set up will possess all of the advantages in point of rigidity and durability of boxes of a permanent structure.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my box ready for use. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view thereof. Figs. 3- and 4 are detail views of the interlocking sides. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification.

Referring to the drawings, [0 designates the bottom of the box, the same being provided at opposite sides with extensions or tongues 11, adapted to be. bent at right an The sides of the box are composed of one integral piece of material 13, bent to form the four corners 14. The

sides 15 are each provided with slots 16, ex-

Serial N01 179,942. No model.)

tending entirely across the same and are adapted to support the edges oi the bottom 10. Just below said slots and in uxtaposition therewith are additional slots 17 long enough to allow the tongues 11 to pass easily therethrough, stripslS being formed intermediate of the slots 16 and 1'7.

The sides S of the box is formed of two over-' lapping members A and B, the former being provided with the split tongue 19, having shoulders 20. The member B is provided with a split portion 21, terminating in a transverse openin 22, the latter being adapted to receive the split tongue 19, whereby the members A and B are united, the shoulders 20 engaging the edges of the opening 22, thereby preventing tlie accidental withdrawal of said tongue.

To set up the-box, the side piece is folded at the four corners, whereupon the members A and B will overlap. The two sections of the tongue 19 are then pressed together until they overlap or cross each other, whereupon the distance between the shoulders 20 is de creased sufficiently to allow said tongue to pass freely through the opening 22. The two sections of the tongue arev then released and the resiliency of the material will cause them to assume their normal position, thereby cffecting an engagement between the shoulders and the upper and lower edges of'the opening 22. By this means the members A. and B are firmly united, the shoulders 20 atl'ording a positive loc'lcing means against any accidental separation of the parts. The bottom piece 10 is then passed through the slots 16, the tongues 11 being folded over the strips 18 and passed through the slots 17, thus locking the bottom firmly inposition and rigidly supporting the sides from the interior of the box. i

It will be readily observed that l have produced a collapsible berry-box which is simple and inexpensive in structure and which by reason of the peculiar construction of the t'asteniug means is of unusual rigidity and firmness. It is apparent that the greater the strain brought to bear on the inside thereof the more rigidly and securely are the parts heiil to'g thor. A further advantage lies in the integral side piece, whereby the box may jam-.-

be compactly folded, thus adding to the corn venience of shipping empty boxes, and by reducing the number of parts the liability of loss of said parts is reduced to a minimum. It will also be observed that by reducing the number of parts to a minimum I secure a cor. responding reduction in the cost of manufacturing without affecting the stability and durability of the box. A further advantage lies inthe fact that by my means of securing the parts together I dispense with the use of nails or other similar fastening devices. 7 I,

In Fig. 4 l have illustrated a modified means for uniting the ends of the side piece, the same consisting in providing said ends with oppositely-arranged pointed tongues 30, adapted to interlock. The member A is also provided with a small tongue 31, adapted to enter a slot posite side edges protruding through and rest ing in said larger slots, and downwardly-extended tongues formed on the protruding edges of said bottom, said tongues corrcspond. ing inv size to said smaller slots with which they are engaged, whereby said bottom is locked against movement.

2. A box having its sides formed of an integral piece of material, means for removably uniting the ends of said piece, a removable bottom having opposite side edges protruding through corresponding sides of the box, and downwardly-extending locking-tongues formed on the protruding edges of said bottom and also engaging the sides of the box, whereby said bottom is held against movement.

3. A box having its sides formed of an integral piece of material, one endof said piece being provided with a split tongue having shoulders, the other end thereof havinga split portion terminating in a transverse opening adapted toreceive'said tongue and en gage said shoulders, oppositeslots being formed in said sides, and a removable bottom having opposite side edges protruding through and resting in said slots.

4. A box having its sides formed of an integral piece of material, one end of said piece being provided with a split tongue, the other end thereof being provided with an opening adapted to reoeive'said tongue, opposite slots being formedin saidsides, and a removable bottom having opposite side edges protruding through and resting in said slots, the protruding edges of said bottom being provided with tongues, additional slots being formed in said sides to receive said tongue.

In testimony whereof -I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES JERY .BAIRI).

W'itnesses:

F. A. lVlCCAHL, l). Duuw. 

